So its taken me all week to recover from Renegade (well, the recovery process was hindered by several late nights at the office) but boy, what a rockin’ show! It was only about a billion times better for me than last year, and despite the constants (that awful pool, the rain, the blistering heat) I had a blast.

My pal Alison (of King Popcorn) and i braved the elements (way to go, holding down a metal tent in the middle of a lightning storm!) and managed to sell a few things along the way… a few happy customers:

not to mention a few props sent via blog comment and photos found around flickr.

I also tried out a few new things, like the etched pieces, that I completely love and will be permanent parts of the stereoette collection:

Anyhow! Thanks so much to everybody who stopped by! I’m slowly working to get merch photographed and into my etsy shop but like I said, its been a loooooong week and I’m a little slow moving. But despite that, yay renegade!

Renegade is THIS WEEKEND! Click on the flyer above for more info, directions, etc. You’ll want to come say hi at the Stereoette + King Popcorn booth, where my friend Alison and I will be vending!

Okay, so enough with the “suspense” - here’s what I was up to with those illo’s last post.

I’ve etched them into copper!

I recently read a great tutorial on etching copper and brass on Copperheart’s blog, and immediately ordered the materials. Etching is something I’ve wanted to try out for a while, but I was always really intimidated by the materials. Now that I have a porch, though, I can set the etching solution up outside without fearing that I’m going to die from nasty fume inhalation.

This is how that plate looked *before* I dunked it in the etching bath. I tried a few different methods of drawing on the copper, including silkscreening stop-out fluid with my gocco (giant disaster, I don’t suggest it). I found that the best method for me right now is using paint markers. I’m definitely excited to try out PNP Blue paper though, I just don’t have any yet.

This one is my current favorite… the finished piece will be named “Southern Ladies Don’t Curse.” Hopefully everyone will find it as hilarious as I do and it will do well next week at Renegade…

A last new adventure was playing with the make-your-own-stamps kit i got a few months ago. You can see the stamp with the copper above. I’m not exactly sure that I did it correctly, as the stamps are a bit sticky to the touch, and they aren’t consistent in depth. I was using them to make PMC versions of the etched pieces above, but I’m not sure that its a success. I may just have to invest in that super scary stuff you use to etch silver… *shudder*

this is the best of the pmc attempts. I’ll post more pictures once its fired and dunked in liver of sulfur. i do hope that this turns out, since I was looking forward to using those stamps!

Okay, so Renegade Brooklyn is two weeks away and I am OFFICIALLY FREAKING OUT! This is mainly because I have completed NOTHING… absolutely NOTHING… since Hearts and Crafts. This can be partially blamed on the insane state of my apartment right now, but not entirely… we’re very busy at the office and while having multiple litigations at full speed at once is fun, its also VERY exhausting, so when I get home, all I want to do is sit around and watch “So You Think You Can Dance.”

However, during my television time I have managed to get one project started - a craft show banner! Now that I’m doing shows on my “own” (well, sort of, I’m sharing a tent w/ my friend Alison I need something to identify me to the crowd. I’m really happy with the banner thus far, despite having just glued on half the letters and having not gotten anywhere NEAR the sewing machine. But still. Its blue, its white it says “Stereoette” in big letters and its MINE.

I also had a good moment with paper and ink this weekend… I won’t tell you what these are for, but if it works out, its going to be REALLY cool. Anyone who knows me knows that I passionately love comics, so its really fun to do… *something* (trying to be mysterious, is it working?) related to that with my crafting!

Not a major post, but this past Sunday, Julie and I went to the Botanical Gardens up in the Bronx. I took my trusty Canon S3 and had a ball. I don’t fancy myself much of a photographer, but I’m definitely improving, and I got some really great shots out of the trip. Also, it was *wonderful* to just be outside all day! Living in the city its easy to forget how relaxing it is to be around trees and water and flowers. So, I hope you dig the pictures, have some fun, there are plenty more than those in that collage!

Usually I’m the one nagging my friends about how they haven’t blogged in “aaaaaaages” but now, I’m in need of a lecture. Sorry its been so long! I’ve been working a lot, as well as trying to get the apartment into livable shape. However, I have had a chance to break in the craft room with a custom order.

Aren’t these cute? They are buttons, connected by a chain with a clasp, that were intended to hold together a shrug at a wedding. I was really happy with how they turned out, and they were the first pieces made at my new jeweler’s bench!

You can see a progress picture above. I’m loving having a real bench, although its taking some getting used to because its at a different height than I normally saw at. Also, my vice doesn’t quite fit on it, so I have the vice clamped to the sewing table still. Oh well.

Anyhow, the next few weeks will be spent preparing for Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn which is the weekend of June 14/15. I have some new tricks up my sleeve that will debut at Renegade, so if you are in New York, I hope you’ll make an appearance!

More later… maybe even some apartment pictures, since I’m getting much closer to having a place that doesn’t look like a warehouse!

Okay, I know you all are craving pictures of the new apartment, but I do swear, it looks like a post-apocalyptic wasteland in there. I kid you not.

I don’t even want to hurt your eyes or send you into a panic by posting the large version of this. The bedroom (not pictured) is coming together though, and the craft room definitely needs some work but at least looks crafty…

Yeah… it’s bad, but do cut me some slack, i’ve only been there a week! and at least the laundry room (yes, I have one of my OWN… INSIDE my OWN apartment!!!) is clean…

Also, today was Hearts & Crafts Affair and it was splendid fun as usual… thanks to Emily and Julie for coming by to say hi… and check out pictures of the cuteness here!